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For the farming families of Barangay San Andres in Catbalogan City, Samar, the hardest part of agriculture isn’t growing cropsβ€”it’s getting them to market. Impassable roads during the rainy season turn the transport of coconuts, root crops, and vegetables into an expensive, time-consuming hurdle that directly erodes household income.

Farmers themselves knows that a good road can make a difference between a difficult trip and an efficient one. In which, San Andres Farmers Agrarian Reform Association President Elena Cabutin, is expecting to have more reliable access transporting their harvested agri-products to the market with the construction of the road.

β€œπΎπ‘’π‘› π‘šπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘Žπ‘™π‘–π‘§π‘’ π‘›π‘Ž 𝑖𝑛𝑖 π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘˜π‘Žπ‘™π‘ π‘Žπ‘‘π‘Ž, π‘’π‘ π‘Ž 𝑖𝑛𝑖 π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘‘π‘–π‘›π‘–π‘˜π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ž β„Žπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘‘π‘Žπ‘˜π‘œ 𝑖𝑛𝑖 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛 π‘šπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘Žπ‘˜π‘Žπ‘π‘’π‘™π‘–π‘” β„Žπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘’ β„Žπ‘Ž π‘’π‘˜π‘œπ‘›π‘œπ‘šπ‘–π‘¦π‘Ž β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘”-π‘’π‘šπ‘Ž. π·π‘Žπ‘˜π‘œ π‘Žπ‘› π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘”-π‘ π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘” π‘›π‘”π‘Ž 𝑖𝑛𝑖 π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘˜π‘Žπ‘™π‘ π‘Žπ‘‘π‘Ž π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘™π‘– π‘›π‘Ž π‘Žπ‘› π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘ π‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘‘π‘’π‘˜π‘‘π‘œ π‘‘π‘–π‘˜π‘Žπ‘›π‘” β„Žπ‘Ž π‘’π‘šπ‘Ž π‘œ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘¦π‘‘π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘”-π‘Žπ‘Žπ‘”π‘–-π‘Žπ‘› β„Žπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘˜π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘”π‘Ž 𝑖𝑛 π‘šπ‘Žπ‘¦ π‘ π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘¦π‘Žπ‘› π‘›π‘Ž π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘Žπ‘˜π‘Ž-π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘’π‘ π‘  β„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘– π‘›π‘Ž π‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘‘π‘‘π‘œ β„Žπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘šπ‘œπ‘› π‘’π‘šβ„Žπ‘Žπ‘›π‘Žπ‘›,” Cabutin said.

[β€œIf this road project is completed, it will be a big help to us, especially to our farmers. We believe it will create better opportunities for us and help improve our livelihood. We’re really hoping that this road will make it much easier to transport our farm products. Instead of struggling to carry our produce from the farm, vehicles will be able to get closer to our farms, making it easier and faster for us to bring our products to the market.”]

β€œπΌπ‘‘π‘’π‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘šπ‘Žπ‘Žπ‘”π‘– β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘ π‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘”-π‘’π‘šπ‘Ž π‘‘π‘–π‘›β„Žπ‘– 𝑖𝑛 π‘›π‘Žπ‘”π‘Žπ‘šπ‘–π‘‘ β„Žπ‘–π‘› π‘˜π‘Žπ‘€π‘œ β„Žπ‘Ž π‘Žπ‘™π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘ π‘˜π‘’π‘‘ π‘œ π‘ π‘Žπ‘˜π‘œ π‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘› π‘”π‘–π‘›π‘π‘Žπ‘π‘Žπ‘ -π‘Žπ‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘˜π‘Žπ‘‘π‘– β„Žπ‘Ž π‘ π‘¦π‘’π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘π‘–π‘ π‘Žπ‘› π‘šπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘– π‘Žπ‘› π‘Žπ‘”π‘–-π‘Žπ‘›. πΊπ‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘™π‘–π‘›π‘”π‘’β„Žπ‘Ž 𝑔𝑒𝑑 β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘› π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘”-π‘’π‘šπ‘Ž π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘–π‘”π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘ π‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ π‘›π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘Ž π‘˜π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘Žπ‘› π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘Ž π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘›π‘Žβ„Žπ‘Žβ„Žπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘£π‘’π‘ π‘‘ π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘‘π‘’π‘˜π‘‘π‘œ 𝑖𝑛 π‘šπ‘Žπ‘”π‘‘π‘’π‘‘π‘’π‘›π‘œπ‘‘ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘›. π‘ƒπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘œ π‘™π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘π‘Žπ‘ -π‘Žπ‘› π‘˜π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘‘π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘– π‘šπ‘Žπ‘› π‘šπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘Ž-π‘Žπ‘π‘π‘’π‘ π‘  𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛 π‘ π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘¦π‘Žπ‘› π‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘‘π‘‘π‘œ,” she shared.

[β€œThe farmers here usually transport their produce using baskets or sacks, carrying them on their backs all the way to the city, even though the route is difficult. They really do their best to bring their harvest to the market because the produce can easily spoil if left too long. Most of the time, they have no choice but to carry everything themselves because it is not accessible by the vehicle.”]

For San Andres Brgy. Captain Domingo Jabien, Jr., improving the road access really means a lot to the farmers and not just only farmers but also the residents from Brgy. San Andres and three barangays in the upland. He also said that the project could bring significant relief to resident once completed especially for the farmers transporting their agricultjural products to the city.

β€œπ‘€π‘Žπ‘’π‘π‘Žπ‘¦ 𝑖𝑛𝑖 π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘”π‘˜π‘Žπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘Ž π‘˜π‘Žπ‘šπ‘– 𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑖 β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘– π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘“π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘š-π‘‘π‘œ-π‘šπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘˜π‘’π‘‘ π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘Žπ‘‘ π‘˜π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘šπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘Žπ‘˜π‘Žπ‘π‘’π‘™π‘–π‘” 𝑖𝑛𝑖 β„Žπ‘Ž π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘šπ‘œπ‘™π‘œπ‘π‘¦π‘œ β„Žπ‘Ž π΅π‘Ÿπ‘”π‘¦. π‘†π‘Žπ‘› π΄π‘›π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘’π‘  π‘™π‘Žπ‘π‘– π‘›π‘Ž β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘‘π‘– β„Žπ‘Ž π‘’π‘π‘™π‘Žπ‘›π‘‘, π‘Žπ‘› π΅π‘Ÿπ‘”π‘¦. π‘€π‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘’π‘’β„Žπ‘Žπ‘¦, π΅π‘Ÿπ‘”π‘¦. πΏπ‘œπ‘π‘œ, π΅π‘Ÿπ‘”π‘¦. π‘‡π‘œπ‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘–π‘›π‘”π‘œπ‘› π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Ž-π‘Žπ‘Žπ‘”π‘–-π‘Žπ‘› β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘– π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘˜π‘Žπ‘™π‘ π‘Žπ‘‘π‘Ž. π‘€π‘Žπ‘¦π‘‘π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘”π‘’π‘‘ π‘˜π‘–π‘‘π‘Ž π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘”-π‘’π‘šπ‘Ž π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘Žπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘– π‘‘π‘–π‘›β„Žπ‘–, π‘‘π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘– π‘›π‘Ž β„Žπ‘–π‘Ÿπ‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘’π‘˜π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘Žπ‘› β„Žπ‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ž π‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘‘π‘– β„Žπ‘Ž π‘ π‘¦π‘’π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘π‘Žπ‘™π‘–π‘”π‘¦π‘Ž β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘Ž π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘‘π‘’π‘˜π‘‘π‘œ β„Žπ‘Ž π‘šπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘˜π‘Žπ‘‘π‘œ,” Jabien said.

[β€œIt’s really good that we now have this farm-to-market road because it will be a big help to the residents of Brgy. San Andres, especially those living in the upland barangays like Brgy. Manguehay, Brgy. Lobo, and Brgy. Totoringon, which this road connects. We have many farmers here, and with this road, they won’t have to struggle as much to bring their produce to the city and sell them at the market. It will make their work and daily lives a lot easier.”]

β€œπ΄π‘› π‘šπ‘Žπ‘–π‘π‘’π‘π‘’π‘™π‘–π‘” β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘¦ π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘”π‘šπ‘Žπ‘–π‘›π‘‘π‘Žπ‘–π‘› β„Žπ‘–π‘›π‘– π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘˜π‘Žπ‘™π‘ π‘Žπ‘‘π‘Ž 𝑖𝑛 π‘Žπ‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘šπ‘œπ‘›π‘–π‘‘π‘œπ‘Ÿ π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘‘π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘– π‘šπ‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘π‘Ž π‘Žπ‘› π‘˜π‘Žπ‘™π‘ π‘Žπ‘‘π‘Ž π‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘› π‘ π‘’π‘”π‘Žπ‘‘ π‘”π‘–β„Žπ‘Žπ‘π‘œπ‘› β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘‘π‘Žπ‘€π‘œ π‘˜π‘’π‘› π‘Žπ‘›π‘œ 𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑛 π‘–π‘Ÿπ‘Ž π‘”π‘–π‘›π‘π‘’π‘π‘’β„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘,” he assured.

[β€œThe barangay can help maintain this road by regularly monitoring its condition and making sure that it is not damaged. They can also keep an eye on how people use the road and make sure that everyone is doing their part to help keep it in good condition.”]

The planned concreting of the Barangay San Andres to Bangon Falls Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) is funded through the DA RFO8 GAA FY 2026 Farm-to-Market Road Development Program, in which the project has an allocation of around β‚±30 million. And before the construction begins, the Department of Agriculture and the Provincial Local Government of Samar conducted a pre-implementation site visit and field validation to examine the proposed road alignment, assessing the conditions, and identifying concerns that need to be addressed before construction start.

For Governor Sharee Ann Tan, the concreting of the road will ease the burden of the farmers and the residents of the four barangays. β€π‘Šπ‘’ π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’ 𝑒π‘₯𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔 π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘˜π‘Žπ‘˜π‘Žβ„Žπ‘Žπ‘‘π‘Žπ‘” π‘˜π‘–π‘‘π‘Ž β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘”-π‘’π‘Žπ‘ π‘’ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘π‘’π‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘’π‘› β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘”-π‘’π‘šπ‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘‘π‘’ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘π‘Žπ‘”π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘›π‘ π‘π‘œπ‘Ÿπ‘‘ β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘–π‘Ÿ π‘π‘Ÿπ‘œπ‘‘π‘’π‘˜π‘‘π‘œ β„Žπ‘Ž π‘šπ‘’π‘Ÿπ‘˜π‘Žπ‘‘π‘œ. π‘Šπ‘’ π‘‘π‘Ÿπ‘–π‘’π‘‘ π‘œπ‘’π‘Ÿ 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑑 π‘›π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘π‘’π‘™π‘–π‘”π‘Žπ‘› π‘›π‘Žπ‘‘π‘œπ‘› π‘Žπ‘› π‘Žπ‘‘π‘’π‘› π‘šπ‘”π‘Ž π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Žπ‘”-π‘’π‘šπ‘Ž. π‘π‘”π‘Žπ‘› 𝑖𝑛𝑖 π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘π‘Ÿπ‘’-π‘–π‘šπ‘π‘™π‘’π‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› 𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝑣𝑖𝑠𝑖𝑑 𝑖𝑛 π‘π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘Ž π‘”π‘–β„Žπ‘Žπ‘π‘œπ‘› β„Žπ‘Žπ‘› π‘Žπ‘€π‘Žπ‘Ÿπ‘’π‘›π‘’π‘ π‘  β„Žπ‘–π‘‘π‘’π‘› π‘π‘œπ‘šπ‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘–π‘‘π‘¦ π‘›π‘”π‘Ž π‘šπ‘Žπ‘¦π‘‘π‘Ž π‘–π‘šπ‘π‘™π‘’π‘šπ‘’π‘›π‘‘π‘Žπ‘‘π‘–π‘œπ‘› β„Žπ‘–π‘› 𝐹𝑀𝑅 π‘›π‘”π‘Žπ‘‘π‘Ž β„Žπ‘Ž π‘–π‘¦π‘œ π‘™π‘’π‘”π‘Žπ‘Ÿ,” Gov. Tan said.

With the support of the Department of Agriculture and the implementation of PLGU-Samar, the San Andres-Bangon Falls FMR is poised to become important link between the community’s farms and the markets beyond them.